Link for bracelets or the like.



H. H. LOTT.

LINK FOR BRACELETS OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24. 1915-.

Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

l/Yl/E/VTOE.

HERMANN H.

By a,

LOTT.

' A TT'y.

1H: NDRRIS PETERSCO WASHINGTDN, n. c.

HERMANN H. LOTT, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

LINK FOR BRACELETS OR THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au 1, 1916.

Application filed May 24, 1915. Serial No. 30,022.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMANN H. LOTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Links for Bracelets or the like, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates generally to jewelry and, more particularly, to certain new and useful improvements in jewelry ofthat class or kind known as bracelets or wristornaments, the principal objects of my present invention being to provide, as jewelry articles, so called links, especially adapted and designed for bracelets or the like, of comparatively simple and inexpensiveform and construction and of neat'andpleasing appearance, and which are not'only easily interchangeably locking attachable one to the other in forming the completed or-finished bracelet, but also readily detachable, when desired, one from another,and to improve generally upon jewelry articles of the kind stated.

With the above and other objects in view, my present invention resides in'certain novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, all as will hereinafter be described and afterward pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, which shows my invention in preferred form, Figure l is a side elevational View of a bracelet formed of or comprising links and connecting members embodying my invention; Figs.'2, 3, el, 5, and 6 are plan views of the several complementing or cooperating parts forming, when assembled, the completed or finished link proper; Fig. 7 is a crosssectional view through one of my new links; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the tool preferably employed by me in'disengaging or detaching one link from another. Fig. 9 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and in section, of one of my new links, illustrating a portion or fragment of a second link in attached relation therewith and also said disengaging tool in operative applied position prior to actual disengagement of the two links; Fig. 10 is a similar view, the sec- 0nd link being partly disengaged or detached from the first link through application of the disengaging-tool; and Fig. 11 is an inverted plan view, partly broken away,

of one of the links, illustrating, also in inverted plan view, a portion "or fragment of a second link 1n attached relation therewith.

Referring to said drawing, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and more partlcularly'to Figs. 2 to 11, both inclusive, A lnd cates one of my new bracelet-links, wh1ch is preferably approximately rectangular in shape and slightly curved or arched longitudinally. The link A comprises or includes a bodyim'ember, shell, or casing preferably of any suitable metal stamped or cupped to provide an outer approximately rigid top portion or wall 1, upon which. in the finished link may appear any suitable or desirable design or the like, and laterally disposed or flanged side-portions or walls 22, and end-portions or walls 33, both end-portions or walls 33 being cut away, as at 4:, for purposes soon to appear.

Fitting flatwise snugly within the bodymember or shell of the link upon the under or inner face of topportion'-I thereof, is a plate 5 preferably of sheet metal. Provided in plate 5 adjacent one end thereof and preferably integrally, as by punching or the like, is a spring-catch" or strap-engaging member 6 obliquely facing toward the opposite end of the plate 5 and presented outwardly relatively to the body-member or shell of the link.

Fitting flatwise upon plate 5 within the confines of the shell or body-member of the link, is a second plate? cut away at one end, as at 8, to provide an approximately U- shaped guide-frame embracing and surrounding the spring 6 of plate 5, legs 99 of frame 8 being presented toward one end, as, for instance, end 3, and'which, for purposes of description, I- will call the female end, of the link. As seen particularly in Fig. 11, frame 8 of plate 7 has a width approximately the same as the width of cutaway portion 4: of end 3 of the link. For purposes hereinafter appearing, one leg, as, for instance, leg 9, of frame 8, as shown especially in Fig. 5, is lengthwise cut away on its inner side to provide at the outer end thereof a shouldered prong or lug 10 presented toward the other or opposite leg 9 of said frame. Plate 7 is somewhat shorter in length than plate 5, whereby I provide a space, as at 11, at the opposite or, as I will call it, the male end of the link. Within space 11, upon plate 5 and, endwise abutting against plate 7, is the inner or pintle end of a flat link-attaching member or strap 12. This strap 12 projects longitudinally outwardly of the shell of the link through the cut-away portion 4 of shell end-portion 3' and at its inner end is provided with laterally extending oppositely disposed pintlelugs 13--13 which hingedly engage with end-portion 3 of the link-shell, as shown in Fig. 11. To operatively releasably engage with the spring 6 of a second link A, strap 12, which is of such width as to slidably fit snugly, but removably, within the guideframe 8 of the second link A, is suitably, preferably approximately rectangularly, cut away within its area to provide an enlarged opening, as at 14, and to facilitate the detachment of link A from said second link A, the outer edge of opening 14 of strap 12 is recessed outwardly, as at 15, thereby also providing corners or shoulders 16-16 projecting inwardly relatively to opening 14. Also snugly fitting flatwise Within the confines of the shell of the link and upon and covering plate 7 with its frame 8 and also the pintle-end of strap 12, is a back-wall or shell-closing plate 17 cut away at one end, as at 18, to permit hinged or swinging move ment of strap 12 relatively to the shell of the link, flanged side-portions 22 and end portions 33 of the shell of the link being crimped or inturned upon the outer face of plate 17 as clearly seen in Fig. 7, to not only hingedly secure strap 12 to, but also retain the plate-members 5 and 7 rigidly within, the shell or bodymember of the link. In proper operative position relatively to spring 6 or plate 5, outer plate 17 is provided, for purposes shortly appearing, with a suitable perforation or aperture, as at 19.

In use or operation, links A being constructed as described, to attach a link A to a second link A, the strap 12 of the first link A is endwise slidably inserted into the female end of the second link A. In sucli movement, said strap 12 first rides upon, and thereby depresses, spring 6 of the second link A; spring 6 afterward, when said strap 12 has been fully inserted within, and embraced by the frame 8 of, said second link A,

projects obliquely into said strap-opening 14 and engages with said corners'or shoulders 1616 of said strap 12, the two links A being thereby detachably locked together. To disconnect or disengage said links, I preferably employ the tool B illustrated in Fig. 8. This tool B is provided at its for-, ward end with a depending flange 20, and projecting outwardly from said flange at preferably the center thereof is a small stud or pin 21. This pin 21 of tool B is adapted to be inserted through the perforation 19 of outer plate 17 of said second link A to depress its spring 6 out of engagement with said shoulders or corners 16-16 to release the strap 12. Tool B remaining in its described operative engagement with said second link A, the first link A cannot be at once entirely disconnected or detached from the second link A, due to the engagement of tool B at its pin 21 with said strap 12; said first link A, however, may now, due to said recess-continuation 15 of opening 14 of the strap 12, be moved outwardly relatively to said second link a limited distance depending upon the depth of said recess 15, as shown in Fig. 11. The first link A being so moved outwardly, the shoulders 1616 of the strap 12 thereof will ride upon said spring 6 and thereby, on tool B being now removed from engagement with said second link and also with said strap 12, hold said spring 6 in depressed or link-unlocking position relatively to strap 12, whereupon, as will be obvious, first link A may be entirely disconnected or disengaged from said second link. It will thus be evident that said links A, while being readily and easily separably connected, are, when in operative connection one with the other, firmly and securely locked together and that the same cannot be disconnected or separated except by positive operation on the part of the wearer or user.

While I have herein shown and described my invention as a bracelet-link, for which use it is especially adapted and designed, it is to be understood that the same may equally well be applied to other jewelry articles or the like, and that changes in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts thereof may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent is:

1. A new article of manufacture including a linkmember comprising rigid spaced apart top and back walls and side walls therebetween, said link-member having an opening thereinto at its end, and an attach ing-member adapted to snugly slidably fit separably through said opening and within said link-member between the walls there of, the said opening into said linkmember being adapted to accommodate only said attaching-member, one of said members being provided transversely with an aperture and the other of said members being provided with a spring free at one end to project into said aperture and releasably engage with a wall thereof when the attaching-member is within the link-member.

2. A new article of manufacture including a link-member comprising spaced apart top and back walls and side walls therebetween, said link-member having an opening thereinto at its end, a transversely apertured attaching-member adapted to snugly slidably fit separably through said open ing and within said link-member between the walls thereof, the said opening into said link-member being to accommodate only said attaching-member, and a spring-memher within said link-member having an end normally projecting outwardly away from said top wall, said spring being adapted at its said end to project into said aperture and engage with a wall thereof when the attaching-member is within the link-member.

3. A new article of manufacture including a link comprising spaced apart top and back walls and side walls therebetween, said link having an opening thereinto at its end, a transversely apertured attachingmembcr adapted to snugly slidably fit through said opening and within said link, the said opening into said link-member being adapted to accommodate only said attaching-member, and a spring fixed at one end within the link and adapted to yieldingly project at its free end into the aperture of, and releasably engage with, said attaching-member when the same is within the link to detachably fasten the same to the link, said link being provided in its back wall with an aperture adapted to receive independent means for depressing said spring out of engagement with said attaching-member to permit separation of the attaching-member and link.

4. A new article of manufacture includ ing a link comprising spaced apart top and back walls and side and end walls therebetween, and a cut-away plate providing an approximately U-shaped guide-frame fixed fiatwise within the link intermediate said top and back walls, an end wall of the link being cut away to provide an opening into said guide-frame, an apertured attaching member adapted to snugly slidably fit separably through said opening and within said frame, the said opening into said link-memher being adapted to accommodate only said attaching-member, and a spring fixed at one end within said link and adapted to yieldingly project at its free end into the aperture of, and releasably engage with, said attaching-member when the same is within said guide-frame to separably fasten said attaching-member to said link, said spring at its free end being disposed outwardly away from said top wall and toward said back wall and said link being provided with an aperture in its back wall adapted to receive independent means for depressing said spring out of engagement with said attaching-member to permit separation of the attaching-member and link.

5. A new article of manufacture including a link comprising a body-member providing top, side, and end walls, a back wall fixed to said side and end walls and spaced from said top wall, and a cut-away plate providing a guideframe fitting flatwise within said body-member intermediate said top and back walls, an end wall of said body-member being cut away to provide an opening into said guide-frame, an apertured attaching-member adapted to slidably fit snugly within said frame, and a spring fixed at one end within said body-member and adaptedto yieldingly project at its free end into the aperture of, and releasably engage with, said attaching-member when the same is within said frame to detachably fasten said attachingmember and link together, the link being provided with an aperture in its said back wall adapted to receive independent means for depressing said spring out of engagement with said attaching-member to permit separation of the attaching-member and link, the aperture in said attaching-member having a continuation such as to permit, on depression of said spring, limited outward movement of the attaching-member relatively to the link while said independent means remains in springdepressing position.

6. A link or the like including top, back, side, and end walls, a cut-away plate providing a guide-frame fixed fiatwise between said top and back walls, an end wall being cut away to provide an opening into said guide-frame, and a spring fixed at one end within the link intermediate the top wall thereof and said plate and yieldingly projecting at its free end outwardly away from said top wall and into said guide-frame, said guide-frame being adapted to receive a link attaching-strap.

7. A link or the like including a bodymember comprising top, side,. and end walls, a back wall fixed to said side and end walls and spaced from said top wall, a plate fitting fiatwise within said body-member, a second cut-away plate providing an approximately U-shaped guide-frame also fitting flatwise within said body-member intermediate said first plate and back wall, an end wall of said body-member being cut away to provide an opening into said guide frame, and a spring integral at one end with said first plate and normally projecting at its free end outwardly away from said top wall and yieldingly into said frame, said frame being adapted to receive a link-attaching-strap.

8. A link or the like including a bodymember comprising top, side, and end Walls, a back wall fixed to said side and end walls and spaced from said top wall, a plate fitting fiatwise within said body-member, a second cut-away plate providing a guideframe also fitting flatwise within said bodymember intermediate said first plate and back wall, an opening into said frame being provided in an end wall of said bodymember, and a spring integral at one end with said first plate and normally projecting at its other end outwardly away from said top wall and yieldingly into said frame, said opening and frame being adapted to snugly removably receive a link-attachingstrap and the back wall of said link being provided with an opening also directed into said frame adapted to receive independent means to engage said spring to depress the same out of normal position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

I-IERMANN H. LOTT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

